The back-to-back Finals MVP sunk a clutch three-pointer with 21 seconds to go of the fourth quarter to put Golden State 113-109 up and essentially secure the win.
And there was one man who couldn’t help himself from getting involved in the celebrations in an electric Oracle Arena.
That was none other than the injured Steph Curry, who missed his 10th straight game due to a left groin injury.
The point guard – who watched from courtside – strutted on to court holding both hands above his head sporting the signature three-point celebration before greeting Durant with a big high-five while teammate DeMarcus Cousins also got himself involved as the Warriors relished an 18-point comeback.
Though without Draymond Green with a toe injury and Curry – who could return in their next game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday (1am UK time/Wednesday 8pm EST) – the Warriors produced huge third and fourth quarters to claw the game back.
Golden State outscored the Magic 32-19 and 37-27 to overcome their first-half deficit and secure a third straight win.
While not a particularly remarkable achievement for the Warriors given their three championships in the last four years, it was another big result for the defending champions in the context of their last fortnight.
Golden State have endured issues on and off the court, notably a heated exchange between Durant and Green, and had lost four straight before their improved current streak.
The Warriors again weren’t at their best but are improving game-by-game and Durant was helped by Klay Thompson against Orlando with the guard serving up 29 points, hitting six-of-12 from three-point range.
Durant, meanwhile, was 16-of-33 from the field and just four-of-10 from behind the arc – but was 13-of-13 from the free-throw line and added six rebounds and nine assists.
The nine-time All-Star became just the seventh Warriors player to post up 40-plus points in back-to-back games after Curry, Thompson, Antawn Jamison, Purvi Short, Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain.
Discussing his and Klay’s impact, Durant declared: “Once we both initiate the offense, that keeps the defense on their heels and we can make plays for ourselves and for our teammates.
“Tonight we got down early, they made threes, we fought back in the third and Klay was great in that fourth quarter to get us back into that game.”
On his own night – having followed up 44 against the Sacramento Kings with one shy of a half-century – the 30-year-old added: “I put on the gas and try to get the money, try to score. Especially when we’re down that many points and we can’t generate offense that fast, I’m trying to get to it.
“Tonight it was no different. I felt the energy was down so I tried to do something to help my team out on the offensive side of the ball and defense.
“The bench was great in the fourth quarter. I can’t say enough about the rest of the guys, to be down 18 and get the W.
“We’re fighting harder on the defensive side of the ball. We didn’t score the ball well early on but our defense kept us in the game.”
Curry, meanwhile, is expected to return to practice tomorrow ahead of the Warriors’ road trip and could return at Toronto.
Green is also nearing a return as the Warriors get ready to welcome back their All-Star starting four of Durant, Thompson, Curry and Green.